The Poetical Works of - OUDL Home

Qant 1111 FAERIE
Then when as vse of speach was from her reft,
With her two crooked handes she signes did
make,
And beckned him, the last helpe she had left
But he that last left helpe away did take,
And both her hands fast bound vnto a stake,
That she note stirre Then gan her Sonne to flie
Full fast away, and did her quite forsake ,
But Guyon after him in haste did hie,
And soone him ouertooke in sad perplexitie
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In his strong armes he stiffcly him embraste,
Who him gainstnuing, nought at all preuaild
For all his power was vtterly defaste,
And furious fits at earst quite weren quaild
Oft he re'nforst, and oft his forces fayld,
Yet yield he would not, nor his rancour slacke
Then him to ground he cast, and rudely hayld,
2VEENE
87
18
It was a faithlesse Squire, that was the sourse
Of ail my sorrow, and of these sad teares,
With whom fromtender dug of commune nourse,
Attonce I was vpbrought, and eft when yeares
More rype vs reason lent to chose our Peares,
Our selues in league of vowed loue we knit
In which we long time without gealous feares,
Or faultie thoughts continewd, as was fit,
And for my part I vow, dissembled not a whit
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It was my fortune commune to that age,
To loue a Ladie faire of great degree,
The which was borne of noble parentage,
And set in highest seat of digmtee,
Yet seemd no lesse to loue, then loued to bee
Long I her seru'd,and found her faithfull still,
Ne euer thing could cause vs disagree
Loue that two harts makes one, makes eke one
And both his hands fast bound behind his backe, will
And both his feet in fetters to an yron racke Each stroue to please, and others pleasure to
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fulfill
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With hundred yron chaines he did him bind,
And hundred knots that did him sore constraine
My friend, hight Philemon, I did partake
Yet his great yron teeth he still did grind, Of all my loue and all my pnuitie,
And grimly gnash, threatning reuenge invaine, Who greatly loyous seemed for my sake,
His burning eyen, whom bloudie strakes did And gratious to that Ladie, as to mee,
staine,
Ne euer wight, that mote so welcome bee,
Stared full wide,and threw forth sparkes of fire, As he to her, withouten blot or blame,
And more for ranck despight, then for great Ne euer thing, that she could thmke or see,
paine,
But vnto him she would impart the same
Shakt his long lockes, colourd like copper wire, 0 wretched man, that would abuse so gentle
And bit his tawny beard to shew his raging ire Dame
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At last such grace I found, and meanes Iwrought,
Thus when as Guyon Furor had captiu'd, That I that Ladie to my spouse had wonne ,
Turning about he saw that wretched Squire, Accord of friends, consent of parents sought,
Whom that mad man of life nigh late depriu'd Affiance made, my happmesse begonne,
Lying on ground, all solid with bloud and mire There wanted nought but few rites to be donne,
Whom when as he perceiued to respire, Which mariage make, that day too farre did
He gan to comfort, and his wounds to dresse seeme
Being at last recured, he gan inquire, Most loyous man, on whom the shining Sunne
Wliat hard mishap him brought tosuch distresse, Did shew his face, my selfe I did esteeme,
And made that caitiues thral, the thral of And that my falser friend did no lesse loyous
wretchednesse
deeme
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With hart then throbbing, and with watry eyes, But ere that wished day his beame disclosd,
Faire Sir (quoth he) what man can shun the hap, He either enuying my toward good,
That hidden lyes vnwares him to surpryse ? Or of himselfe to treason ill disposd,
Misfortune waites aduantage to entrap One day vnto me came in friendly mood,
The man most wane in her whelming lap And told for secret how he vnderstood
So me weake wretch, of many weakest one, That Ladie whom I had to me assynd,
Vnweeting, and vnware of such mishap, Had both distaind her honorable blood,
She brought to mischiefe through ( [And eke the faith which she to me did bynd ,
Where this same w icked villein did mengnt vpon.
more truth
should fynd